Tag: India

Maintaining round the clock vigil in the Maritime Zones of India The Indian Coast Guard is celebrating its 35th anniversary tomorrow. Since its inception, the service has grown into a multi-faceted and vibrant force, maintaining 'round the clock' vigil in the Maritime Zones of India, by deploying its multi-role ships and aircraft.Beginning with a modest inventory of two ex-naval frigates, the service today boasts of a force-level of 68 ships and 52 aircraft. During the past year, one ship, four interceptor boats, four Dornier aircraft and two Chetak helicopters have been commissioned into service, in addition to the establishment of six CG Stations and two Air Enclaves.The Indian Coast Guard today, is on a path of rapid expansion, as a large number of state-of-art ships, boats and aircraft are under-construction at various shipyards/PSUs. The service is expected to attain a force-level of 77 surface platforms and 56 aircraft by end 2012. The Coast Guard will also have 42 CG Stations, four Air Stations and 11 Air Enclaves functioning all along the coast, by the end of 2012.On the manpower front, the service has initiated several measures to augment its manpower viz. introduction of short service appointment for women officers and ...

To improve the evacuation of road bound cargo to and from Chennai Port The Union Minister of Shipping, Shri G.K. Vasan reviewed today the progress of the two connectivity projects aimed at improving the evacuation of road bound cargo to and from Chennai Port. The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Dr. C.P.Joshi was also with him. They reviewed the initiative taken by the Chennai Port to improve its road and rail infrastructure so that there is a free flow of traffic inside the Port.The issues of congestion inside the Port and along the city roads leading to Chennai Port were discussed in detail. As a part of the initiative, the Port is developing an eight lane gate complex at its principal Gate No.1 at its northern end which will hasten the flow of container trailers and other cargo vehicles through the gate. Similarly, the Port is also coordinating with the State Government to increase the duration of operation of the other gates viz. Gate No. 2, 2A & 10. In addition, Gate No.5 will also be made operational at night with the co-operation of the Southern Railway and the State Police Department.The Ministers noted with satisfaction the progress ...

For Shipping companies and management companies operating in India On January 12, the release of a chemical tanker 'Fairchem Bogey' by Somali pirates after five months in captivity has brought cheers to Indian shipping. The ship, which was seized on August 20, while on anchorage within the Salalah port limit in Oman and waiting for berthing instructions from port authorities, had an Indian crew of 21 on board.As per local reports, pirates released the ship for a ransom estimated at $8 million (around Rs 40 crore). The ransom, as per industry estimates, may be on a higher side, given that the tanker is carrying just a partial load of methanol. But it was a small price they paid for releasing 21 Indians on board.Another ship 'Savina Caylyn', with 17 Indian crew, hijacked on February 8, 2011, was released on December 22. All crew members have now arrived in India.With the release of these two ships, total number of Indian crew in custody of Somali pirates on different ships has come down by more than half to 22, from the earlier 60. As per a recent communiqué by India's shipping regulator -- director general of shipping, six Indians are still on ...

As on 10th January, 2012 The Directorate General of Shipping under the Ministry of Shipping has received the following information on the ships in custody of Somali pirates/ released as on 10th January, 2012:M.T. "SAVINA CAYLYN", with 17 Indian crew, hijacked on 08.02.2011 was released on 22nd December 2011 from Somalia and all the crew members have now arrived in India via Fujairah.M.V. "SPAR RIGEL", Flag Norway, with 20 Indian and 1 Ukranian crew was hijacked off the Nigerian Coast early today morning. The crew, following the best management practices, locked themselves into the citadel (Safe house) on board. The naval forces in the region were alerted and the vessel is now free of pirates and all crew are reportedly safe.As on date the number of Indian crew in custody of Somali pirates on different ships is as follows: This does not include mechanized sailing vessels. NAMEFLAGHIJACKED ONINDIANSa. M.V. ICEBERG-1PANAMA29.03.20106b. M.T. FAIRCHEM BOGEYMARSHALL IS20.08.201121c.. M.V. AL BEDOMALAYSIA26.11.20102d. M.T. ENRICO IEVOLIITALY27.12.207 While 36 Indian seafarers are on board four foreign flag ships, 7 seafarers of "ASPHALT VENTURE" are held hostage on land. So far, no ship with Indian flag has been hijacked.Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India

Piracy off Somalia is a India has advocated adoption of a comprehensive counter-piracy strategy by the international community to tackle the growing problem of maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia.Addressing a UN Security Council meeting on Somalia here, India's Ambassador to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri termed piracy off the coast of Somalia a "serious problem" for the international community.With Somali pirates holding 19 ships and 331 hostages as of October last year, Puri yesterday said combating maritime piracy is an important issue intrinsically linked with the security situation in Somalia.He said given the growing scope of the problem, "the international community has to think about adopting a comprehensive counter-piracy strategy," which should involve a "UN-led anti-piracy force to conduct naval operations."This would help achieve greater coordination in anti-piracy operations by various naval forces.The global strategy should also include enactment of national laws on priority to criminalize piracy and effective sanitization of the Somali coastline along with identifying safe corridors and buffer zones."We stand ready to help in capacity building of the Transitional Federal Institutions and the states in the region for effective measures against piracy off the coast of Somalia," he added.Puri noted that India has taken several ...

With the demand for LNG expected to rise, Indian shipowners want to invest in LNG carriers With the demand for LNG expected to rise, Indian shipowners want to invest in LNG carriers. But this requires a revamp of the policy on LNG movement.Would you dream about running when you can't even walk? That seems to be what Indian ship-owners are doing. Globally, shipping is in choppy waters. Freight markets have been weak and their outlook is weaker. Even the mightiest in the industry are finding it difficult to keep their fleet afloat. The Indian shipping sector is also facing bad weather. But its captains have great dreams; they are exploring ways to enter the high-cost cost liquefied natural gas (LNG) transportation business."It may appear a bit unrealistic or over-ambitious now, but you've got to think long term," said a shipping company official when asked about the industry's request for a new LNG Transportation Policy.Currently, LNG imports are made on a c.i.f basis. This means, the supplier of the gas also make the shipping arrangements. The buyer has no say in the transportation of the cargo. Normally, LNG import contracts are entered into for 15-20 years and the shipping terms are ...

Efforts of the world community to effectively address the piracy problem India and Oman have extended the validity of the existing bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Military Cooperation, signed in December 2005, for a further period of five years. The documents were signed by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony and the visiting Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, His Excellency Badar bin Saud bin Harib al Busaidi here today.Bilateral defence cooperation between India and Oman has been growing over the years. The Navies of both countries are conducting a joint exercise "Naseem Al Bahr off the coast of Mumbai from December 26-31, 2011. The IAF and the Royal Air Force of Oman held a joint exercise "Eastern Bridge" at Jamnagar, Gujarat in October earlier this year.During the delegation level talks both sides noted that bilateral defence cooperation activities have been progressing satisfactorily. The 5th meeting of the India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee was held recently in India in September, 2011.Both the Ministers discussed important issues relating to regional and maritime security. Shri Antony noted that incidents of piracy were taking place close to the Oman coast and have also been spreading close to the ...

India has initiated several preventive/mitigating security measures to curb piracy Ministry of Defence had requested M/o Shipping to advice all Indian Shipping companies to adopt the Best Management Practices (BMPs) particularly with respect to the construction of a 'Safe House' or 'Citadel' on their ships for protecting the crew in the event of a piracy attack.M/o Shipping has advised the Shipping industry to adopt the BMPs which inter-alia include alarms, evasive manoeuvres, enhanced vigilance during watch keeping, control of access points and safe houses.Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India

Armed Guards for Indian Ships An Inter-Ministerial Group of Officers (IMGO) has been set up to deal with hostage situation arising out of the hijacking of merchant vessels with Indian crew on board.The owners and flag administration of the hijacked vessels are contacted through Indian Missions abroad to ensure that they take suitable steps for the safety and early release of the hostages.The Government has issued guidelines on Deployment of Armed Guards on Indian Merchant Ships. These guidelines provide the criteria for owners to contract private armed security guards for deployment on Indian merchant ships, in cases where the owners desire to do so.The Government has initiated several preventive/mitigating security measures that are as follows:Notices by Director General of Shipping detailing elaborate anti-piracy measures (Best Management Practices) including safe house/citadel.Sailing vessels banned from plying in waters south or west of the line joining Salalah and Male.Naval escort provided by Indian Naval Ships in Gulf of Aden.Enhanced vigil by Indian Navy in Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).Guidelines for deployment of armed guards on Indian merchant ships issued.Joint operational exercises being conducted on regular basis among Navy, Coast Guard, Coastal Police, Customs and others.The intelligence mechanism has been streamlined through the creation ...

Control of substandard ships coming to Indian territorial waters Control of substandard ships coming to Indian territorial waters & endangering environment is exercised by the Indian Maritime Administration through the international accepted method of Port State Control (PSC). Mercantile Marine Department's Surveyors carry out Port State control Inspections on foreign Flag vessels.These inspections verify sea worthiness of the vessels & simultaneously verify compliance with various International Safety Conventions. When vessels are found in substantial non-compliance with applicable laws or relevant maritime convention requirements, the PSC system suitably intervenes to ensure that non-conformances are rectified, before further plying. India is a founder member of Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding (IOMOU). There are 13 members of IOMOU.This Regional cooperation of countries on the Indian Ocean rim also contributes towards the control of substandard ships plying in the region. In addition, the Government is actively considering banning the entry of Ships which are more than 25 years old.Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India